Progressive Reform

Terms and People Progressivism – movement that responded to the pressures of industrialization and urbanization by promoting reforms muckraker – socially conscious writer who dramatizes the need for reform Lincoln Steffens – muckraking author of Shame of the Cities; exposed corruption in urban government Jacob Riis – muckraking photographer and author of How The Other Half Lives; exposed the condition of the urban poor

Terms and People (continued) Jane Addams – leader in the settlement house movement settlement house – community center that provided services for the urban poor Social Gospel – belief that following Christian principles could bring about social justice direct primary – allowed voters to select candidates rather than having them selected by party leaders 3

Terms and People (continued) initiative – process in which citizens put a proposed new law directly on the ballot referendum – process that allows citizens to reject or accept laws passed by their legislature recall – process by which voters can remove elected officials from office before their terms end 4

What areas did Progressives think were in need of the greatest reform? Progressivism was a reform movement that responded to the social challenges caused by industrialization, urbanization, and immigration in the 1890s and 1900s. Progressives desired to act for the good of society in the areas of education, workplace conditions and the government.

believed industrialization and urbanization had created social and political problems. were mainly from the middle class. Encouraged state legislatures to make laws to go along with issues the poor faced. wanted to reform by using logic and reason looking for social justice. Progressives were reformers who

Progressives (similar to Populists) believed honest and efficient government could bring about social justice. They wanted to end corruption. They tried to make government more responsive to people’s needs. They believed that educated leaders should use modern ideas and scientific techniques to improve society. Progressives differed from Populists because they were typically middle- class people living in cities, while Populists were farmers. 7

Progressives targeted a variety of issues and problems. Political reforms – corruption trusts and monopolies created by big business Inequities – halt the gap between the rich and poor; create more economic opportunities Safety – need for clean drinking water, housing, paved streets city services women’s suffrage

Muckrakers were more effective than any group before them because they sensationalized people’s lives in publications that were read by millions of people. Lincoln Steffens The Shame of the Cities - articles on political corruption – bribes and threats of voters; customers paying too much for electric in Philadelphia. Jacob Riis – New York Evening Sun – took pics of how the poor lived and published them. Wrote “How the Other Half Lives” 9

Ida Tarbell – History of Standard Oil Reported John D. Rockefeller and his ruthless methods to ruin his competitors, charged higher prices reaping huge profits. John Spargo – focused attention on the dangerous and difficult lives of child workers.

The naturalist novel portrayed the struggle of common people and their misery. Upton Sinclair’s novel The Jungle provided a shocking look at meatpacking in Chicago’s stockyards.

Progressive novelists covered a wide range of topics. Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie discussed factory conditions for working women. Frances Ellen Watkins’s Iola Leroy focused on racial issues. Frank Norris’s The Octopus centered on the tensions between farmers and the railroads. Progressive novelists covered a wide range of topics. 13

Progressive reformers worked to change society. - Jane Addams led the settlement house movement. Her urban community centers provided social services for immigrants and the poor. * Hull house – Chicago – 13 buildings – inspired women to become social workers - Many Progressives wanted to follow Walter Raschenbusch’s Social Gospel program believed that Christianity should be the basis of social reform - They believed people should make society like the “kingdom of God” 14

The United States Children’s Bureau was created in 1912. Progressives succeeded in reducing child labor and improving school enrollment. The United States Children’s Bureau was created in 1912. 15

In the 1900s, the U.S. had the world’s highest rate of industrial accidents. In 1911, 146 workers died in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Many young women jumped to their deaths or burned. Worker safety was an important issue for Progressives. This fire resulted in workers’ compensation laws Industrial workers often worked with unsafe machinery so they fought for these laws too. Progressive female reformers worked to reduce the number of hours women worked in factories

Government could not be controlled by political bosses and business interests. Progressives targeted city officials who built corrupt organizations called political machines Government needed to be more efficient and more accountable to the people. To reform society, Progressives realized they must also reform government.

Cities and states experimented with new methods of governing. In Wisconsin, Governor Robert M. La Follette and other Progressives reformed state government to restore political control to the people. direct primaries initiatives referendums recalls

Progressive governors achieved state-level reforms of the railroads and taxes. Two Progressive Governors, Theodore Roosevelt of New York and Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey, would become Progressive presidents. On the national level, in 1913, Progressives helped pass the 17th Amendment, providing for the direct election of United States Senators.